Round trip train fare, 40 baht. Motorbike rental, 200 baht. Temple fees, 10 baht each for Thais or 50 for foreigners. Lunch, 80 baht. Tally it up and Ayutthaya is an easy escape for a day trip under 500 baht, just an hour from Krung Thep Aphiwat station. Even if you've been many times before, it is worth exploring some of the peripheral sites in the crepuscular quiet before or after the tour groups have come and gone. Better still, spend a night or two and explore the historical sites and night markets under the lights. The Unesco heritage site has over 400 ruins and temples, and thousands of chedi and prang in good condition, so there will always be more to investigate, and every exploration brings new rewards.
Ayutthaya was founded in 1350, capital of the Siamese Kingdom after absorbing Sukhothai. It flourished from the 14th to 18th centuries, one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas, a centre of commerce and diplomacy for the broader region.
Strategically surrounded by three rivers, the old capital formed an island that was easy to defend from coastal invasion. Unfortunately it was attacked from Burma in 1767 and Ayutthaya was burned to the ground and largely abandoned as a commercial hub. The historic archaeological site, however, provides a fascinating glimpse into a bustling former era.
